Organizer/Host/Blessed Reverend: Internationally unknown artist, Emily Sloan has projects including Napping Affects Performance (NAP), a participation and performance project hosted live for six weeks at Art League Houston and ongoing in Houston, east Texas, and upstate New York; Wash and Hair Wash (a benefit for Japan), public, all day performances hosted by Gallery 1724 (Houston); Salon des Refusés: artwork rejected from Lawndale Art Center's The BIG Show; Funeral Party, a life and death experience performed at 14 Pews, January 1, 2011; curating the TX BI 2011; and is the artist-in-residence at 14 Pews. In her free time she enjoys impersonating and experiencing life as investigative reporter Marvin Zindler through her alter ego, investigative performer Zarvin Mindler.

About 14 Pews: Located at 800 Aurora St., Houston, Texas 77009, this Houston landmark is the oldest white wooden church in the Heights. Built in 1924, it has housed the Sunset Heights Church of Christ, Aurora Picture Show, and is now home to 14 Pews. 14 Pews is a non-profit microcinema providing regular screenings of independent documentaries and feature films, along with 4 annual film festivals and several affordable film/video educational classes. For more information, please visit: www.14pews.org

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011: Zarvin Mindler makes a public apprearance at PODA (Portable On Demand Art) at Discovery Green! PODA is a project of Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) as part of the American Association of Museums 2011 Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo.

Above: Zarvin at large.

Zarvin deciphering Aerosol Warfare Codes.

Zarvin peeking-in-a-pod. (Jillian Conrad)

Zarvin shaking hand with a man in a striped shirt.

Zarvin spots a fourth PODA titled "Box of Curiosities". There are also whispers of it curiously being referred to as Box 13...Is this to throw Zarvin off?

What Goes on Inside White Cubes? Zarvin Mindler Defrosts the Facts from the Frost-Covered

For Immediate Release-- HOUSTON (May 1, 2011)—Acting upon an anonymous tip that Box 13 ArtSpace has been using a refrigerated “white cube” slyly referred to as “The Kenmore” for more than perishables, Zarvin Mindler organized a frost-biting sting. Mindler infiltrated Box 13 with what she referred to as her “Everyone’s An Artist” tactic. This tactic involved Mindler claiming to be a performance artist with her crew disguised as her photography artist friends and documentarians.

Once inside, Mindler discovered the icy cover-up to be much larger than just The Kenmore. Mindler reported finding up to 10 refrigerated cubes and the possibility of even more. She made her way through several of these cubes, including one coyly guarded by the distraction of its Boxer artist/owner keeping his legs perpetually in the air in an effort to thwart Mindler. Mindler stated, “Although this was a fascinating feat, I refused to allow it to distract me from getting to the bottom of what is going on inside these white cubes! The shenanigans only made me more determined to defrost the facts from the frost-covered. ” In full transparency, Mindler also commended one of the Boxer artists for his impeccably clean black cube containing clean surfaces, fresh foods, and a thermostat.

Upon finally locating The Kenmore and searching inside, Mindler reported the horror of discovering ritual food dolls including some crackers with her own likeness. A Boxer artist who has requested to remain anonymous made the outrageous claim that the dolls were not part of a ritual but were the cast of a sitcom called “The Freshleez…” that was housed in the The Kenmore and produced by La Chicana Laundry. These allegations of further abuses by additional appliances currently remain under investigation.

Above image: Zarvin Mindler next to a photo of her role model Marvin Zindler

Zarvin Mindler determinedly working around legs perpetually in the air. (above)

Zarvin Mindler commends a Boxer. (above)

Zarvin Mindler horrified at the discovery of ritual food dolls including some crackers with her own likeness!

About Zarvin Mindler: Zarvin Mindler is an investigative performer whose primary method includes Boxer artist Emily Sloan modeling herself after former Houston Press and KTRK-TV investigative reporter, Marvin Zindler. Among Zindler’s many contributions to the local culture, he hosted the infamous “Rat and Roach Report” which included investigating public ice machines for slime. Zindler, Mindler, and Sloan further share a soft spot for the elderly, the working class, the eccentric, designer make-up, white hair and blue glasses.

About The Kenmore and Box 13 ArtSpace: Not just another white cube, The Kenmore is a small, cold artist-run exhibition object located within Box 13 ArtSpace in Houston, Texas. The Kenmore is just one example of the innovative projects ongoing at Box 13 ArtSpace. Together, they aim to keep things fresh!

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Southern Naptist Convention is seeking proposals, papers and artworks related to napping and conducive to sleep. The 2011 Convention will take place beginning at 1pm on Sunday, June 12 at 14 Pews, 800 Aurora St., Houston, TX 77009. If this call appeals to your heart of hearts, please submit a proposal to Rev. Emily for consideration. Proposals and questions received at emily(at)emilysloan(dot)com or 713-582-1198. The deadline for proposals is May 31, 2010. This call is open to all faiths.

About Napping Affects Performance: Napping Affects Performance (NAP) and NAP Church are performance and participation projects by Emily Sloan providing community naps in collaboration with various performances, including (but not limited to) collaborations with sound, word, touch, and the delivery of naps to various sites and/or contexts. In May and June of 2010, NAP operated out of Art League Houston with six weeks of continuous performances taking place during Art League’s regular hours of operation. Since then, followers and napophiles began meeting once a month for a Sunday naps and naptisms during NAP Church services. NAP and NAP Church are organizing the Southern Naptist Convention to be held in Houston, June 12, 2011 at 14 Pews. For more information, please visit: Napping Affects Performance.

About 14 Pews: Located at 800 Aurora St., Houston, Texas 77009, this Houston landmark is the oldest white wooden church in the Heights. Built in 1924, it has housed the Sunset Heights Church of Christ, Aurora Picture Show, and is now home to 14 Pews. 14 Pews is a non-profit microcinema providing regular screenings of independent documentaries and feature films, along with 4 annual film festivals and several affordable film/video educational classes. For more information, please visit: www.14pews.org

Details:*One entry per artist.*Entered artworks must have been rejected from Lawndale Art Center's The BIG Show 2011.*Artworks must be accompanied by their rejection slip/label from The BIG Show.*$5 to $10 suggested donation, 100% of which will go to the bar/reception and advertising*Please note space is limited. *Artwork may be turned away.*Artists may bring one page of information (such as a statement or bio.) to be included in a notebook about the exhibition.*People's Choice Prize to be voted on during opening, one vote per person so bring your parents! Prize money has been generously donated by Marv Chasen & Mike Rudelson.

About M Squared...Gallery M Squared founded in 1991 is located in the historic Heights Theater at 339 West 19th Street. The gallery represents American artists of different generations and handles work in all types of media, including painting, sculptures, photography, film, video, drawings and printmaking. The mission of the gallery is to collect, preserve, research and exhibit fine and decorative art. The gallery owner's are Max Boyd Harrison and Mike Kubis.

About the Salon des Refusés: Artwork Rejected from The BIG Show...The Salon des Refusés: Artwork Rejected from The BIG Show is an exhibition of artwork rejected from Lawndale Art Center's jurored exhibition, The BIG Show. It is inspired by the Salon des Refusés held in Paris in 1863. The original salon of 1863 consisted of artwork rejected from the official Paris Salon. Exhibiting artists of the Salon des Refusés of 1863 included Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Camille Pissarro, and James Whistler among others. Following in the spirit of a statement from Napolean III about such a salon of "Wishing to let the public judge...," this current day version arranged by artist Emily Sloan allows Houston-area artists the opportunity to share their work regardless of a juror's selection choices...though they must at least have tried!